VIENNA - Despite the ongoing eurozone crisis, global foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 16 percent to 1.536 trillion dollars in 2011, said a UN report released on Thursday.

According to "World Investment Report 2012" conducted by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global FDI is expected to increase at a slower rate in 2012 due to slower global economic growth, to 1.6 trillion dollars.

FDI inflows in the United States in 2011 totaled 227 billion dollars, marking a 15-percent increase. The 27-member EU saw a surge by 32 percent to 421 billion dollars.

In China, the total FDI inflow reached 124 billion dollars, increasing by 8 percent and in India, it stood at 67 billion dollars, up by 31 percent.

About 45 percent of the investment went to developing countries in 2011, representing an 11 percent increase to 684 billion dollars, said the report.

UNCTAD economists expect global FDI to increase to 1.8 trillion dollars in 2013 and 1.9 trillion dollars in 2014, though uncertainty for investors during this time period remains high.